Ex-Tory minister Norman Tebbit who served in Margaret Thatcher's government dies

Norman Tebbit, the former Tory minister who served in Margaret Thatcher's government, has died at the age of 94.

Lord Tebbit died "peacefully at home", his son William confirmed.

One of Mrs Thatcher's most loyal cabinet ministers, he was a leading political voice throughout the turbulent 1980s - entering the cabinet as employment secretary and leaving six years later as Conservative party chairman.

He was trade secretary when he was injured in the IRA's bombing of Brighton's Grand Hotel during the Conservative Party conference in 1984.

Five people died in the attack and Lord Tebbit's wife Margaret was left paralysed. She died in 2020 at the age of 86.

Before entering politics, Lord Tebbit trained as a pilot with the RAF - at one point narrowly escaping from the burning cockpit of a Meteor 8 jet.

He was responsible for legislation that weakened the powers of the trade unions and the closed shop, making him the political embodiment of the Thatcherite ideology that was in full swing.

His tough approach was put to the test when riots erupted in Brixton, south London, against the backdrop of high rates of unemployment and mistrust between the black community and the police.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and party chairman Norman Tebbit.
Pic: PA
Image: Margaret Thatcher and Norman Tebbit in 1987 after her election victory. Pic: PA

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the "Conservative family mourns" his loss and sent her "sincerest condolences to his loved ones".

She called him an "icon" in British politics and was "one of the leading exponents of the philosphy we now know as Thatcherism".

Lord Tebbit and his wife Margaret stand outside the Grand Hotel in Brighton.
Pic: PA
Image: Lord Tebbit and his wife Margaret stand outside the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Pic: PA

"But to many of us it was the stoicism and courage he showed in the face of terrorism which inspired us as he rebuilt his political career after suffering terrible injuries in the Brighton bomb, and cared selflessly for his wife Margaret, who was gravely disabled in the bombing," she wrote on X.

"He never buckled under pressure and he never compromised. Our nation has lost one of its very best today and I speak for all the Conservative family and beyond in recognising Lord Tebbit's enormous intellect and profound sense of duty to his country.

"May he rest in peace."

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the latest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.